A World Needs Wonders What do a clothesline, a locally grown tomato, and a microchip have in common? They're all ordinary things that, with widespread use, can have an extraordinary impact in the fight against global warming. With its inspiring vision and simple yet sound explanations of complex processes, Seven Wonders for a Cool Planet sheds new light on our relationships to the world we inhabit and offers a powerful template for personal action.

Seven Wonders for a Cool Planet If you're tired of worrying about global warming, and ready to actually do something about it, then it's time to consider the technologies that can really help us achieve a sustainable future. We're not talking about fancy carbon-sequestration systems or fertilizing the oceans with iron. We're talking simpler (and cheaper!) than even buying a hybrid. These are seven wonderful things that can all add up to a cooler planet. Which one do you think deserves the title of coolest of them all? The Bicycle "Yes, a bicycle really can fight global warming all by itself, with every bike trip reducing the five tons of carbon dioxide a year that an average car cranks out. [It] can get us to think about the larger task at hand -- reorienting our communities so that more of us can get around without resorting to internal combustion. It's healthier for us and the planet too." The Condom "The condom gives couples a hand in slowing population growth. The United States is a world leader in both unintended pregnancies and per capita carbon emissions. The little old condom can help bring both under control." The Ceiling Fan "Already installed in 65 million American homes, [it] uses far less energy than an air-conditioning unit, and makes air conditioning cool better. With smart designs, better technology, and tools as inspired as a ceiling fan or programmable thermometer, we can keep cooling our bodies, heating our water, and lighting our homes -- and put a lot less carbon into the air." The Clothesline "Talk about a great gift idea: the clothesline keeps on giving in the form of lower energy bills, while, just like other kinds of renewable energy, the free solar power that dries your shirt on the line never runs out." The Real Tomato "The local real tomato marries fuel efficiency and peak taste. Fossil fuels go into fertilizers, farm equipment, and the tractor trailers that move our fruits and vegetables and cereal and bottled water and boneless chicken breast thousands of miles. Locally grown food and sustainable food options taste superior. Better yet, they improve our food mileage and contribute to a low-carbon diet." The Library Book "The book you borrow is the book that doesn't require extra cutting of carbon-saving trees. Other reused items and materials have an equally powerful impact on conserving resources and curbing the massive amounts of carbon produced by manufacturing." The Microchip "The microchip is revolutionizing the way we deliver and manage words and and data to the point that some books and other material, like bricks and mortar, are becoming obsolete. The digital systems that microchips inhabit are helping us cut down on commuting, making warehouses irrelevant, and creating an economy built around information more than around fuel-consuming stuff." Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club